As the pre-season testing for Ferrari unfolded in Bahrain, Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton expressed an “incredible feeling” after his first test drive in the new Ferrari SF-25. Sharing the driving duties with teammate Charles Leclerc, Hamilton kicked off the SF-25’s run, a day filled with anticipation and excitement.
While McLaren’s Lando Norris set the pace in the first day of testing in Bahrain, it’s too early to determine the competitive hierarchy of the season. Factors such as fuel loads and engine modes remain undisclosed, making the broader picture unclear.
Hamilton, who has previously tested for Ferrari and participated in a filming day in the 2025 car, seized this opportunity to drive the new model under more realistic conditions. As the first day concluded, both drivers had logged numerous laps, leaving them with positive initial impressions of the new Ferrari.
In Hamilton’s words, testing is always a thrilling prospect. “It’s the first time you get to see what everyone has been developing and can start to get a feel for your own car and the year ahead.” The champion driver described his experience with the Scuderia Ferrari HP and the SF-25 as nothing short of incredible.
At this stage, Hamilton and his team are more focused on experimentation, data collection, and familiarization with the car rather than performance assessment. Although it’s still too soon for performance analysis, the champion is optimistic, “everything feels good and as a team we’re working on the best way to optimise each run.”
Hamilton is eager to further understand the new vehicle, stating, “There’s more to do over the next few days to get through our programme and understand the car to the best of our ability, but right now I’m looking forward to getting out there again.”
In the afternoon session, Leclerc took over the driving duties. The Ferrari pair will follow the same routine on Thursday, with Hamilton starting the first driving stint of the day and Leclerc taking the reins later.
Leclerc, after completing his 71 laps, expressed pleasure in getting back on track. “The whole team put a lot of effort into the SF-25 project over the winter break, so it’s exciting to finally get down to work with it.”
The driver appreciated the smooth session, stating, “It’s always a positive to have a smooth session without anything unexpected happening in terms of your run plan.” However, he was cautious about making early performance conclusions, mirroring Hamilton’s perspective. As the testing continues, the real capabilities of the new Ferrari SF-25 will come to light.
